A Long Nine Months

6: Incompetent Invalids

A plume of smoke erupted from the cauldron, bursting into a magnificent cloud of lilac mist that hung suspended in the airーsuch a beautiful color for something that could smell so fetid. Lily coughed as she inhaled a gulp of air redolent of rotten-egg and she could practically feel her hair losing its weight as it rose off her shoulders, sucking in the humidity.

Lily rose from her seated position in the corner of the dining room, slowly untangling her criss-crossed legs and pushing herself to her feet with one hand braced on the corner of the long table behind her. One hand waved at the air in front of her nose and she walked through the open doorway into the living room, eager to escape the foul odor. There, she flopped onto their worn settee and blew on a piece of stray hair that stubbornly fell right back in front of her eye.

"That smells delightful," Remus droned from his perch on the couch.

"Doesn't it? It's what I'd imagine Petunia's new house smells like if she'd ever invite me over to visit," Lily responded with a scowl.

Remus tactfully said nothing. They all knew that Lily's vain hopes for a miraculous reconciliation with her sister had better odds of becoming reality than Sirius moving back in with his dear mum. And Lily knew it too. Though she just couldn't help herself from clinging to that last shred of hope.

Lily pulled her frizzy hair into a ponytail at the nape of her neck and finally took a good look at her friend. Remus was as pale as ever after the full moon, his scars shining brightly against waxen skin and dark bags hanging from under his eyes. Every movement seemed like it caused him pain, and though he bit back the agony with well-practiced ease, she could still see through his facade.

"Do you want some healing potion?" she asked.

Remus gave a hollow laugh. "No, I shouldn't have anymore. I already took some this morning."

"Some tea then?"

"I should be the one getting you tea, Lily. Not the other way around," he chided with a tired smile.

She cocked an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

"You're six months pregnant! You shouldn't be on your feet so much."

"And what would you know about being pregnant, Remus?" she retorted with crossed arms, instantly rising to her feet just to prove her point.

Remus sighed. He should know better than to tell Lily Evans--scratch that, Potter--what she should and should not do.

"Besides, you're less than twenty-four hours after turning into a werewolf for Merlin's sake. And contrary to what all of the Order seems to think, I am not completely incompetant." With that, she stalked off towards the kitchen, her stomach protruding from under her magically enlarged t-shirt stolen from James' closet. She returned a few minutes later with a kettle and two porcelain mugs floating in front of her.

"Here," was all she said as she directed one cup to float in front of Remus's face and the kettle tipped forward to spout water in a graceful arc. When the kettle floated lazily towards Lily's mug, Remus grasped his by the handle and blew carefully into it, his eyes never leaving Lily's flushed face and darkened brows.

Eventually, he leaned forward and set the mug onto the low coffee table, leaving his hands free to fall into his lap, his fingers barely interlaced to form a tent. He gazed at Lily, watching her bright green eyes dart around the room, searching for something other than him to settle on.

"What," she finally demanded.

"Are we not going to talk about that?" Remus asked with his patient, all-knowing smile.